us 



Notices 0 f Boolis : 



[July 



either mules or bullocks, except at the more difficult passes where men 

 might be stationed to receive the loads; such improvements in the 

 mode of convej^ance would imply a certain outlay in forming better 

 roads, but even without this, Mr. G. Loch has afforded a practical 

 proof of its value by the delivery of 1000 maunds of this coal at Dina- 

 pore including all charges, and under every existing disadvantage, for 

 425 Rs. being 350 Rs. less than the contract price. It is possible how- 

 ever that contractors may not be found ready under the present limited 

 demand, to supply this coal at so great a reduction, and perhaps Mr. 

 Loch's experiment will require to be repeated before the result can be 

 considered as the scale at which the Cherra coal may be generally 

 available. It is however to be observed that two-thirds of the expence 

 incurred by Mr. Loch was for mere conveyance from Cherra to the 

 foot of the mountains. 



** No attempts have been recently made to find workable beds of coal 

 nearer the foot of these mountains, although several highly favourable 

 indications have been observed in various situations between the Paili 

 river and Silhet, both by Mr. Stark and Mr. Jones. Even the bed 

 from which the first boat load of coal sent from this quarter to Calcutta 

 for trial, although situated near the foot of the mountains, and four feet 

 in thickness is now little known. 



" About two miles from the mouth of a small river which descends 

 from the lower Tipera hills, petroleum issues from a sandstone near 

 the bed of the stream ; Mr. Jones sank to the depth of four feet into 

 the rock, when he found it become slaty, thus indicating he says, the 

 presence of coal, though it does not appear why he did not persevere, 

 in his excavation. He observes however, that as the place is well 

 known, others can if necessary prosecute the search.* 



" In the Palli river coal is plentifully found in rolled pieces supposed 

 to be derived from several sources, some of the streams which enter the - 

 Patli from the Garrow mountains introduce abundant fragments, some 

 of these are also supplied from sources much nearer the plains. Near 

 Susung, and beyond Seripore or Cheripore , is a small rivulet in which 

 there is a nine inch vein of coal. On the top of what Mr. Jones called 

 the second range of mountains in Laour, but which may rather be 

 supposed to be little more than one of the higher ranges of hills at the 

 base of the Kasya mountains, the people who accompanied Messrs. 



" * There is a small cluster of hills adjoining the place composed of sandstone, the most 

 remarkable of which is named Arpeen, and is well known from a Mussulman Doorga 

 being placed on the top. Opposite to Solagur in Laour, there is another petroleum spring, 

 the product of which is named Otr, and is used externally in cutaneous affections." 



